There's an update available for Sony's Xperia Z1, Z1 Compact, and Z Ultra that promises to fix a speaker issue that cropped up when the handsets were updated to Android 4.4.2 KitKat. The new firmware build 14.3.A.0.757 corrects the bug that sent audio through the handset speaker (the one you use when using the phone as a phone) instead of the louder external speaker. Right now the update is only available through Sony's PC Companion and Mac Bridge apps, though we imagine it will be available over-the-air soon enough.

Hi just downloaded the patch or rather another update for the fix on the sound that is sometimes coming out of the handset earpiece. Now I have discovered that the Microphone of the phone is at the handset Earpiece!!!! Jokes aside...I am serious...this is hilarious!

I received the first update about 6 weeks ago, it ruined my phone, however yesterday I got the refreshed update, it came over-air no need for a pc, it was quick to install around 2 or 3 minutes and fixed the issues with the speaker

Hi just downloaded the patch or rather another update for the fix on the sound that is sometimes coming out of the handset earpiece. Now I have discovered that the Microphone of the phone is at the handset Earpiece!!!! Jokes aside...I am serious...this is hilarious!

Have received both of the KK updates, and now I have nothing but problems. Way to screw the pooch on this one Sony. Messaging crashes constantly (can't even send an SMS any more), Google Hangouts crashes, and, the kicker, Crash Reporting crashes (I can't even submit a crash report)! Additionally, screen timeout no longer works, and worst of all, the screen keeps coming back on after I turn it off. I can't get the screen to stay off, so my battery is dying in just a couple of hours! Seriously, you've made my $700 Z1 useless.

I have exactly the same problem! SMS keeps on crashing.
In order to sort that out my operator adviced to reset the phone to factory settings, and it worked, but 1 week later same problem... and i cannot be resetting every couple of days.
anybody knows whats going on with the SMS??!

Hi just downloaded the patch or rather another update for the fix on the sound that is sometimes coming out of the handset earpiece. Now I have discovered that the Microphone of the phone is at the handset Earpiece!!!! Jokes aside...I am serious...this is hilarious!

Hi this z ultra was fantastic until it updated to kitkat now I get message crashes and the sound keeps on going off so I can't here the phone ringing or notifications coming in. If i receive a call I can answer it but there is no sound. Wtf has happened to this phone I received the 757 update to fix this but the problems are still there and when I try to reply to messages the keyboard keeps disappearing. Does anybody know if sony will be issuing another update to finally fix these problems?